Iridescent Gold (Fine) vs Desert Tan

How close are they?

ΔE 4.7, very close: most people won’t see a difference side by side. Desert Tan is cooler than Iridescent Gold (Fine). They are different kinds of paint: Golden Iridescent Gold (Fine) is a pearl paint and Vallejo Desert Tan is an opaque base/layer paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Desert Tan instead of Iridescent Gold (Fine)?

Yes, for most jobs. Very close match (ΔE 5). Desert Tan is cooler than Iridescent Gold (Fine). They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Iridescent Gold (Fine) instead of Desert Tan?

The same difference applies the other way round: Iridescent Gold (Fine) is warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.